Tampa Tourist Attractions
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Top Tourist Attractions in Tampa
The city of Tampa, situated on an inlet reaching far into the west coast of Florida, is the economic centre of western Florida. The city centre is an area of high-rise office blocks, but Tampa also has historic old quarters such as Ybor City and Old Hyde Park.
Ybor City
The center of Tampa's Latin community, Ybor City is named for its founder, cigar baron Vincente Martinez Ybor. He came to the region in the mid-1880's after workers at his Key West plant threatened to unionize. At one point, the Ybor cigar factory was the largest in the world with over 4,000 people hand-rolling more than 900,000 cigars a month. However, the Great Depression and machine rollers brought an end to the boom and most factories were closed and demolished.Recently, the area has experienced a revival and is home to many nightspots, restaurants, and cafes. Ybor Centro is a main shopping complex with stores, restaurants, and entertainment.Ybor City is roughly bounded by 6th Avenue, 13th Street, 10th Avenue and 22nd Street, East Broadway between 13th and 22nd Streets. This is a pleasant place to visit by day or evening.
Seventh Avenue
Seventh Avenue in Ybor City, known in Spanish as "La Septima," features some of the district's most historical buildings and unique pieces of architecture including the 3-story Neoclassical Italian Club, the yellow-brick Cuban Club and the arches of the Cafe Creole. Several buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.This is the main street in the area and it is closed to cars on Friday and Saturday nights as visitors wander around soaking up the atmosphere. There are several restaurants, shops, and hotels along this stretch.
Ybor Square Mall (Closed)
THIS ATTRACTION IS CLOSED PERMANENTLY.A selection of shops and restaurants are housed in the headquarters of the Ybor Cigar Factory built in 1886. The Cuban revolutionary Jose Marti once spoke from the steps here, encouraging his countrymen to fight for independence from Spain.
Tampa Bay - Busch Gardens
Busch Gardens is a 335-acre African-themed family-entertainment and adventure park featuring thrill rides, live music, craft performances and a multitude of exotic animals in natural habitat settings. This is one of the must see attractions in the Tampa area for visiting families.Some of the highlights include roller coasters like "Gwazi", a high-speed, wooden double coaster and "Kumba", with one of the world's largest vertical loops. Another thriller is the SheiKra roller coaster.Also, visitors can take the "Edge of Africa" safari to see animals grazing on the plains with reproductions of African villages and camps. "Jungala" offers close up experiences with some of the animals.The Serengeti Night Safari is another popular option at Busch Gardens. Visitors can spend two hours at the park, taking a guided tour, which also includes appetizers, coffee, and dessert.
Adventure Island
Adventure Island is a 36-acre water park with 17 different areas featuring slides, tubes, chutes, plunges and a river raft ride. Highlights include "Splash Attack" with 500 feet of open flumes and closed tubes, "Gulf Scream", a 210-foot body-slide and "Key West Rapids" offering a 6 story drop of twists and turns.
Big Cat Rescue (formerly Wildlife on Easy Street)
Big Cat Rescue is a wildlife sanctuary for abused and abandoned big cats. It is a non profit organization that is home to hundreds of animals which include Geoffroy Cats, Jungle Cats, Clouded Leopard, Tigers, Servals, Caracals, Snow Leopards, Bobcats, and Lynx.The facility offers guided tours only. You cannot wander the grounds freely like in a zoo setting. Nonetheless, this is a popular outing and worth taking the tour. If you are visiting with a child under the age of 10 you must take the "Kids Tour" which is only available on weekends. Children in this age group are not allowed on the regular "Day Tour".
University of Tampa
Established in 1931, the University of Tampa is located in the former Tampa Bay Hotel. Railroad tycoon Henry B. Plant, who was instrumental in Tampa's development, built this Victorian-style / Moorish-Turkish Revival building to attract wealthy tourists away from the East Coast. Part of the university served as Theodore Roosevelt's headquarters during the Spanish American War.Also located in the same building is the Henry B Plant Museum, with items such as furniture and other collectibles which were originally displayed in the old Tampa Bay Hotel.
Henry B Plant Museum
Part of the former Tampa Bay Hotel, owned by railroad tycoon Henry Plant, was turned into a museum in 1933. It is a luxurious Victorian palace with distinctive Moorish features. The Henry B. Plant Museum traces the history of the hotel and Plant's contribution to the development of Tampa and Florida.The various rooms, such as the Grand Hall, the Reading and Writing Room, and the Garden room, feature fine period furnishings and offer a glimpse into the lifestyle of Henry B. Plant.An avid gardener, Plant hired a prominent landscape architect to design the grounds, which are known for their lovely tropical gardens.The rest of the old hotel now houses the University of Tampa.
Museum of Science and Industry
The Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa is a large, 254,000-square foot museum with a variety of interactive and multimedia exhibits. The displays feature such topics as electricity, the human body, flight, space exploration, hurricanes, ecology, and others. Saunders Planetarium presents daily shows and the museum also contains an IMAX domed-theatre with a 10,500 square foot screen. There are plenty of things here to entertain children. The Children's Science Center is specifically designed for children 12 and under.For those looking to get outside, the museum also features several outdoor exhibits, such as a butterfly garden, the T. Bowers Historic Tree Grove, and Backwoods Forest Preserve.
Columbia Restaurant
Located in Ybor city, the Columbia Restaurant is the state's oldest and the nation's largest Spanish restaurant. This historic institution was established in 1905, by Cuban immigrant Casimiro Hernández, Sr. He opened a small corner cafe that now seats more than 1,600 people. There are several individual dining areas within the facility, including the original cafe which seas 60 people.The Columbia is famous for its Spanish cuisine, dinner shows, and old-world architectural charm. Most nights there is a flamenco dance show. It also features Jazz in the cafe on some evenings.
Florida Aquarium
The three-story Florida Aquarium explores Floridian ecosystems and aquatic environments. There are a number of exhibits and galleries including one on Florida's wetlands and swamp regions, a bays and beaches gallery, and a coral reef display with a multitude of tropical fish and marine life. There is a wide variety of aquatic life on display, from sharks and dolphins to river otters. Divers at the Florida Aquarium give daily educational presentations from within the tanks via an intercom system.Families particularly enjoy the touch tank and the outdoor water adventure zone for kids.
Ybor City State Museum
The Ybor City State Museum is housed in the 1923 Ferlita Bakery building in Ybor City, and also includes a furnished casita next door, which would have been the typical home of an average worker at the cigar factory. The museum shows how the area changed from a deserted swamp to the center of Tampa's thriving cigar manufacturing industry.The museum explores the heritage of this unique Latin and multicultural neighborhood, the cigar trade and the history of the site. A narrated audio tour can be downloaded so visitors can explore Ybor City at their own pace.Also of interest is a lovely Mediterranean style garden, maintained by the museum.
Lowry Park Zoo
Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo features more than 2,000 animals on 56 acres of lush, natural habitats comprising seven main exhibit areas: Asian Gardens, Primate World, Free-Flight Aviaries, Florida Wildlife Center, Florida Manatee and Aquatic Center, Wallaroo Station children's zoo, and the new Safari Africa.This is a zoo that has grown over the years and developed into a quality facility that is very popular with locals. Visitors can feed some of the animals, including giraffes. In addition to the animals there are also rides and play areas for children.
Tampa Bay History Center
The exhibits at the Tampa Bay History Center trace the rich history of the Tampa Bay area going back 12,000 years. Early inhabitants of the region such as the Seminoles, the multicultural influences of the last five centuries, the railroad and shipping era, and regional geography are highlights of the Tampa Bay History Center. In addition to the permanent collection the center features a temporary gallery with changing exhibits.This is a 60,000 sq ft facility with a glass front, located in the Channelside District.
Tampa Theatre
Built in 1926, the Tampa Theatre is a luxurious movie palace featuring a unique mix of architectural styles including Italian Renaissance, Byzantine and Greek Revival. It presents foreign and classic films regularly along with specialty concerts and other programs.While you can see both new and old films here, watching one of the classics in this building is a great way to feel like you've stepped back to another time period.
Seminole Cultural Center (Closed Permanently)
THIS FACILITY IS NOW CLOSED PERMANENTLY.On the eastern outskirts of the city, beyond I 4, is the Seminole Cultural Center, which illustrates the history and culture of the Seminoles. In the Seminole village associated with the Center, with the typical chickees (open living huts), Indian craft skills are demonstrated.
Children's Museum of Tampa (Closed)
THIS ATTRACTION IS CLOSED.Exhibits at the Children's Museum of Tampa include Under the Sea for children 4 and under, as well as exhibit buildings such as a fire house, fast food restaurant, bank, travel agency and library.
Hyde Park Village
Hyde Park, between Swann Avenue and Bayshore Boulevard, is Tampa's best preserved old residential district, with many Victorian buildings. In Old Hyde Park Village are fashionable boutiques, galleries and elegant restaurants.
University of South Florida
The campus of University of South Florida features a contemporary art museum and botanical gardens. The university covers 1,695 acres in NE Tampa.
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